Let-off mechanism foe looms



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

Patented June 3 G. PARK.

(No Model.)

LET-OPPMEGHANISM FOR LOOMS. No. 429,580.

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(No Model.)

G. PARK. LET-OFF MEGHANISM IFORLOOMS.

.No. 429,580, Patented June 3,1890

I w i/tmpooeo/ UNITED STATES PATENT Futon.

GILBERT PARK, OF SPENCER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO 'JOHNG. AVERY, OF SAME PLACE.

LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,580, dated'June 3,1890.

Application filed July 23, 1889. Serial No. 318,373. (No model.) I

. To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GILBERT PARK, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Spencer, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Let-Off Mechanism for Looms, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention consists in a graduator of novel construction and incertain novel combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth andclaimed, the whole being embodied in a simple let-off for power-looms.Its primary object is to render the graduator absolutely positive in itsaction, and thus to insure uniform delivery of the warp and the exactnumber of picks to the inch which the let-off is set for.

Other objects of the invention are to facilitate adapting the regulatorto difierent styles of looms, to facilitate adjusting the let-off forcloth of more or less picks to the inch, and to provide for lifting thedogs of the ratchet mechanism for pick-outs without going be hind theloom.

Two sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a verti-' cal section through a loomprovided with a let-off constructed according to this invention, otherparts which do not directly coact with the let-off being omitted. Fig. 2represents a fragmentary plan view of the parts substantially at andbelow the section-line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a back view of theupper part of the let-off mechanism. Fig. 4 represents a plan view ofthe parts at and immediately belowthe line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5represents a fragmentary elevation drawn across from Fig. 8. Fig. 6represents a front elevation of a graduator detached. Fig. 7 representsa fragmentary sectional elevation cor-, responding with Fig. 1 as toplane and illustrating a horizontal arrangement of the improved let-off;and Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary elevation of parts at and behind theline 8 8, Fig.7.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

In carrying this invention into effect Iprovide the lower or main shaftA of a patternloom or other power-loom near one of its end frames B witha let-off cam O, which is preferably double and of the simple ellipticalshape represented in Fig. 1 or 7. The cam O engages with a lever D,which works on a pivot E, supported by said end frame B, and isconnected by a link F with an oscillating dog-holder G, whose dogs Hmesh with a ratchet-wheel I, fast on the ratchet-shaft 'J, which alsocarries the customary endless screw or worm K, in mesh, when inoperation, with a worm-wheel L, fast on the shaft of the warp-beam M.

To graduate the successive let-off movements according to the diameterof the warp on the warp-beam M, a short rock-shaft Nis mounted below thelatterand parallel therewith in suitable bearings O 0 which may beattached to any convenient part of the loomframe, as the bar P, Figs. 1and 2, or to the floor. This rock-shaft and its bearings, together witha fan Q and an arm R, Figs. 1, 2, and 6, car-. ried by the rock-shaft,and the appurtenances of these parts, constitute my graduator. The fanQcomprises a hub a, Fig. 6, which is made fast on the rock-shaft N by aset-screw,

for example, so that the fan may be adjusted longitudinally andangularly on the rockshaft to suit the warp-beam of the loom. Anextensible shank b, Fig. 6, adapts the graduator to different distancesbetween the bearings O O and those of the warp-beam. The shankb isrendered extensible, for example, by forming the same of overlappingparts, one of which is longitudinally slotted, as shown at 11 Fig. 6,while the otheris provided with screw-tapped holes for the reception ofscrews 12 by which the parts are united. A concave follower 0, attachedto the upper end of said shank b by a pivot parallel with the.rock-shaft N, adapts the fan to accommodate itself to the dwindling warpon the beam and to bear uniformly against the same. Alighttorsion-spring S surrounds the rock-shaft between its bearings O O andabuts and reacts against said bearing 0 and against a short arm T at itsrespective ends, the latter being fastened on the rock-shaft by aset-screw, so as to be angularly adjustable independently of the fan Qand of the arm R, which, as shown,

is also angularly adjustable on the rock-shaft in like'manner. The arm Ris made in two parts. The main part, which is attached to therock-shaft, projects rearwardly therefrom,

and is provided with a longitudinal series of holes (1, and a bolt e,which occupies one or another of these holes, attaches a laterallyprojeetin g part which carries a fingerf. This 5 finger engages with aback-stop projection g on the lever D, and by limiting its returnmovements determines the effective movements imparted by the cam Otherethrough and through the link F, dog-carrier Gr, dogs IO H,ratchet-wheel I, shaft J, worm K, and gear L to the warp-beam. Theposition of the end of the finger fis determined in an obvious manner bythat of the fan Q, as illustrated by full and dotted lines in Fig. 1,and the position of the fan is determined directly by the diameter ofthe warp on the warp beain M, the follower c of the fan being heldagainst the outer layer of the warp by the spring S. By the severaladjustments provided for in the graduator, as above described, one andthe same make thereof is adapted to be applied to different makes ofloom, which is a great convenience in attaching the same to looms now inuse.

The cam C is preferably set on the shaftA so that it lets off when thelay is going back. Thus when the laystrikes the cloth the warp is heldtaut and the filling goes in better.

The main portion of the lever Dand the 0 ratchet-shaft J may, as regardsthe main fun 0- tions of my let-off, be either vertical, as representedin Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, or horizontal, as represented in Figs.7 and 8, as may best suit any particular style of loom. The let-off 3 5mechanism represented by said Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, embodies theremaining features of my present invention, and will 110w be moreparticularly described. The lever D, in this vertical arrangement, iscomposed of several parts united by screws d and (Z passing throughlongitudinal slots (1 and (2*,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to provide for varying the distancebetween its contact-piece h, or the cam C, which engages therewith, andthe pivot E, which is conveniently fixed. The contact-piece 72. andback-stop surface g both form part, preferably, of a horizontalextension of the lever 1') at its lower extremity, and the slot (Zprovides for bodily raising or lowering said horizontal extension of thelever, and thus adjusting the contact-piece vertically, while the slot(Z and the screws (1, which pass therethrough into a rebent portion ofthe contact-piece 72 serve as means 5 5 for adjusting the latterhorizontally with reference to the cam. A series of preliminaryadjustments to determine the number of picks at a given starting-pointbegin with the vertical adjustment provided for by said slot (Z Fineradjustments, to determine the number of picks with the utmost nicety,are provided for at the top of the let-off mechanism, as best seen inFigs. 3, 4, and 5. To complete the preliminary adjustments, thelever-arm i of the dog-carrier G is screw-threaded and provided with apair of nuts j, between which the link F works with more or lessleverage,

according to the adjustment of the nuts. hen the preliminary adjustmentsbelow and at this point have been completed, a given vertical positionof the pivot 7r at the front end of the link F means a definite numberof picks to the inch. To provide for readily setting the let-oif for adiiferent rate of pick, the upper end of the lever D has a 1011-gitudinal slot- Zto coact with the bolt-and-nut shank of said pivot 7.x,and is furnished on its outer side with a scale m, Fig. 5, by referenceto which said pivot may be set at once at the proper point for givenwork. The ratchet-wheel I is also vertically adjustable on the shaft J,being made fast thereon at the proper height by a set-screw n. Thedogholder Gr rests upon the hub of the ratchetwheel and moves verticallytherewith. It may be held down by a movable collar U above it, fastenedon the shaft J by a setscrew 02 The preliminary adjustments abovedescribed need only be disturbed when a variation of the number of picksis desired greater than that provided for by said slotZ and scale on,say a variation of from forty to sixty picks per inch. By saidpreliminary adjustments such wide variations are provided for, and theemployment of a longer slot and scale and a correspondingly long leverand ratchet-shaft is obviated.

The dogs II are preferably four in number, and each of the last three isan eighth of an inch shorter than the preceding dog, so that one willalways bite one of the crown-teeth of the ratchet-wheel. The number ofdogs may be increased for finer work, and the variation in their lengththus reduced to one-sixteenth of an inch. The dogs are held down totheir work by springs o.

For lifting the dogs II to free the ratchetwheel I and shaft J when afresh warp-beam is being attached or in case of pick-outs, I provide alifter V in the form of a slotted disk with a radial arm over each dog.It is held down upon the dog-carrier G, and its independent motion islimited by screws 1), Fig. 4, passing through its slots. The dogs haveinclined rear ends to coact with the said radial arms of the dog-lifter,and by turning the latter independently of the dog-carrier the dogs aresimultaneously lifted clear of the ratchetteeth, as shown in dottedlines in Figs. 8 and i.

For turning the dog-lifter from the front of the loom in case ofpick-outs, a hand-rod WV is coupled to an upturned arm g on the doglifter, and its free end is supported, when it is not in use, by a hookr, Fig. 1, which may be attached to or formed on any fixed part withinthe arch B of the loom.

For turning the ratchet-shaftJ when a fresh warp-beam is being attached,the customary hand-wheel X is fastened 011 the shaft at its upper end.For turning the same from in front of the loom in case of pick-outs, theshaft is provided with a fast bevel gear- IIO wheel Y, which isconveniently formed on the under side of said hand-Wheel X, and the sameis meshed by a bevel-pinion Y Fig. 1,

- carried by the rear end of a horizontal shaft Z, the front end ofwhich is provided with a hand-wheel X The'shaft Z turns freely inbearings s .9, formed on a frame-piece B which is conveniently attachedto the arch B, and may serve also to support the said hook r, as shown.

when the loom is at work, the shaft Z turns with the shaft J and thehand-rod \V reciprocates with the oscillating dog-carrier In thehorizontal arrangement represented by Figs. 7 and 8 the finger f of thegraduator is turned up, the back-stop projection g moving vertically.Otherwise the graduator may be constructed as for the other arrangement.The pivot E is adjustable within coincident horizontal slits t, Fig. 7,in the lever D and the adjoining end frame to regulate the letoff as torate of pick. The dog-carrier and ratchet-wheel may be of any approvedmake suited to the horizontal ratchet-shaft.

In both arrangements gravity may suffice to effect the return movementsof the levers D, links F, and dog-carriers G, or the customary spiralsprings may be employed for this purpose. The several parts will be madeof suitable metals and of appropriate shapes and proportions with propermechanical details. In'makin g let-offs for new looms many of theadjustments represented in the drawings may be omitted, and other likemodifications will suggest themselves to machinists.

Details which have not been specified may be of any approveddescription.

Having thus described the said let-ofis, I claim as my invention anddesire to patent under this specification- 1. In combination with thewarp-beam and with a let-off cam, its shaft, and mechanism whichtransmits motion from said cam to said warp-beam, including a movingpart, as a lever, provided with a back-stop surface, a positive-motiongraduator comprising a rock-shaft parallel with the axis of thewarp-beam, a fan which coacts with the periphery of the warp-beam andwhich is adjustable angularly upon said rock-shaft, and an arm carryinga fingerwhich coacts with said back-stop surface and connected with saidfan by said rock shaft, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. In combination with the warp-beam and with a let-0E cam, its shaft,and mechanism which transmits motion from said cam to said warp-beam,including a moving part, as a lever, provided with a backstop surface, a

.graduator comprising a rock-shaft parallel with the axis of thewarp-beam, a fan adjustable angularly upon said rock-shaft and having atits upper end a concave follower, with a pivot parallel to said axiswhich coacts with the periphery of the Warp-beam, and an arm carrying afinger which coacts with said backstop surface and moves with said fan,substantially as hereinbefore specified.

Incombination with the warp-beam and with a let-off cam, its shaft, andmechanism which transmits motion from said cam to said warp-beam,including a moving part, as a lever, provided with a back 7 stopsurface, a graduator comprising a rock-shaft parallel with the axis ofthe warp-beam, a fan which coacts with the periphery of the warp-beam,an arm carrying a finger which coacts with said back-stop surface andmoves with said fan, a torsional spring surrounding said rockshaft, anda fixed part and an angularly-adj ustable arm, against which therespective ends of the spring abut and react, substantially ashereinbefore specified.

4:. In combination-with the warp-beam and with a let-off cam, its shaft,and mechanism which transmits motion from said cam to said warp-beam,including a moving part, as a lever, provided with a back-stop surface,a graduator comprising a rock-shaft parallel with the axis of thewarp-beam, a fan which coacts with the periphery of the warp-beam and isadjustable angularly and longitudinally upon the rock-shaft, and an armcarrying a finger which coacts with said back-stop surface and moveswith said fan, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

5. In combination with the warp-beam and with a let-off cam, its shaft,and mechanism which transmits motion from said cam to saidwarp-beam,including a moving part, as a lever, provided with a back-stopsurface, a graduator comprising a rock-shaft parallel with the axis ofthe warp-beam,a fan having a concave follower which coacts with theperiphery of the warp-beam, and an extensible shank, and an arm carryinga finger which coacts with said back-stop surface and moves with saidfan, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

6. In combination with the warp-beam and with a let-off cam, its shaft,and mechanism which transmits motion from said cam to said warp-beam,including a vertical lever and a fixed pivot therefor, the lever havinga horizontal extension at its lower end terminating in a contact-pieceand provided with a back stop surface, a graduator comprising a rockshaft parallel with the axis of the warp-beam, a fan which coacts withthe periphery of the warp-beam, and an arm carrying 'a finger whichcoacts with said back-stop surface and moves with said fan, said armbeing composed of two parts and means for adjusting one upon the other,substantially as hereinbefore specified.

'7. The combination, with the'let-oif cam and its shaft, of a verticallever and a fixed pivot therefor, the lever having a contactpiece andmeans for adjusting the same, a connecting-link coupled to the upper endof said lever, and an oscillating dog-carrier havin a lever-arm providedwith nuts, between which said link is coupled thereto, substantially ashcreinbefore specified.

8. The combination, with a let-oil cam and its shaft, of a verticalshaft and a vertical 1ever, the latter provided at its upper end with alongitudinal slot, a linlcpivot vertically adjustable within said slot,a ratchet-wheel and an oscillating dog-carrier, both of which arevertically adjustable upon said shaft, and a link connecting said pivotand dog-carrier, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

9. The combination, with a let-off cam and its shaft, of a verticalratchet-shaft and avertical lever, the latter having at its lower end acontact-piece and means for adjusting the same, and provided at itsupper end with a longitudinal slot and a graduated pick-scale parallelwith said slot, a link-pivot vertically adjustable within said slot, aratchet-wheel and an oscillating (log-carrier, both of which arevertically adjustable upon said shaft, and a link connecting said pivotand dog-carrier, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

10. The combination, in a let-off for looms, of a vertical shaft, acrownratchet-wheel fastened thereon, a superposed dog-carrier with its dogs,which oscillates upon said shaft, and a dog lifter in the form of asuperposed disk, having radial arms which engage with and lift the dogswhen the disk is independently turned, substantially as hereinbeforespecified.

11. The combination, in a let-off for looms, of a vertical shaft, acrown ratchet-wheel fastened thereon, a superposed dog-carrier with itsdogs, which oscillates upon said shaft, a dog-lifter in the form of asuperposed disk, having radial arms which engage with and lift the dogswhen the disk is independently turned, and a hand-rod extending backfrom the arch of the loom and coupled to said disk, substantially ashcreinbefore specified.

GILBERT PARK.

\Vitnesses:

CHESTER T. LINLEY, Joan E. GODDARD.

